Angry concert-goers demand show refunds

ANGRY concert-goers are threatening to take the organisers of Signal Radio's 'shambolic' Trentham Gardens gig to the small claims court unless refunds are handed out.

Music fans queued for hours to see top Eighties acts Ali Campbell, of UB40, Go West and The Human League at the radio station's 25th birthday event on Saturday.

Go West and The Human League had to cut short their sets because of delays and technical problems and some ticket-holders went home before the gig, which should have started at 7pm, finally got underway at 8.15pm.

Many had queued since the early afternoon and brought picnics. The gates were due to open at 5.30pm.

But some fans missed the start of the first act after the gates only opened after 7pm and crowds were then kept in a 'holding area'.

Back pain sufferer Dominique Stubbs, pictured, aged 44, of Trent Vale, says she was left in agony after standing in queues for three hours and her family had to leave before the £25-a-head concert started.

She said: "I can't stand in one position for too long. I couldn't carry on, I felt like my back was going to go. I knew someone who queued from 1pm to get a good spot. By the time the queue moved it was going dark and people were going to the toilet in the bushes.

"We paid so much money and didn't even get in, we will go to court to get refunds."

But concert organisers are refusing to budge and say no refunds will be given, despite complaints.

Station director Lisa Hughes said: "We have had some complaints but others said they really enjoyed it after a difficult start.

"I understand people are very unhappy but at the end of the day we delivered three live acts. We are sorry for the delays at the start but they were out of our control, caused by sound problems."

However, Mark Moreton, who attended the event with a group of 20 friends, is determined to get his money back.

The 43-year-old consultant engineer from Stone said: "If we don't get a refund, we are prepared to go to the small claims court and fight for it.

"We went for a friend's 40th birthday, but we were queuing for more than three hours with people getting very upset.

"We weren't told anything and can't understand why we weren't just allowed into the grounds to sit on the grass and have our picnics - then no-one would have minded if the music started late.

"Instead we were herded around for hours and treated disgracefully."

Suggestions that the delays were due to Ali Campbell's sound check demands and refusal to cut his set down have been refuted by his management.

Gary Howard, of Marshall Arts Talent, said: "When you are trying to load a band of Ali's size it takes time – time which could have been covered if the event had been managed correctly."